The op-edder makes several references to science fiction, including this tall tale: “No, the scientists aren't out to find life as we know it from science fiction -- people and starships and societies where Wall Street is irrelevant -- but more basic stuff in the microbial realm.”

Perhaps the op-edder should ask Santa for a copy of “Tenbrook of Mars” 2008, a science fiction novella by Dean McLaughlin that features people and starships and societies where Wall Street is relevant.

She kicks off her column by explaining how salt-of-the-earth and chip-off-the-old-block she is, lest you have any false assumptions that a longtime New York Times op-edder would be anything but the common man or woman.